Me at Panagbenga Weekend: You're Reading that Right!

 I have always wondered how it feels to be a tourist in my home City. I guess I would never know but this recent episode is probably as close as I can get.

I found a great opportunity to get home during the long weekend at the end of January. The weather was still unusually cool and it was before the crazy festivities of February. So I made my plans for a laid back weekend with lots of quiet contemplation, some running and quality time with some friends and maybe my mom. This was a no-brainer of a trip so I did not have to consult any outside help (i.e. Google, travel blogs). I was just coming home for the weekend, after all. Which was too bad, as it turned out (initially, that is). The unnatural amount of people at the bus stations should have warned me that something was up. As it was, I only learned as I was disappearing into my thick blankets at home on Friday morning: my mom said it was Panagbenga weekend! Yikes.

I was there! In the midst of it all.

A Taste of Artsyness | BenCab Museum

A day out with my sister at the BenCab Museum in Asin Road, Tuba Benguet. This post is not a review of any sort, just me sharing yet another fun experience (waaay back in March!) on the outskirts of Baguio City.

Let's get this rollin! Day #9: Melinda and I @ Bencab Museum.

Cafe by the Ruins || Hitting two birds here

Day # 9: Mom and King at Cafe by the Ruins

Going along with the family theme, I decided to put this up even though this happened nearly 10 months ago. This isn't cheating since I made no rules! Haha. Besides, here is a chance to make this into a proper food blog. :)

The menu is going along with the artsy, indigenous theme.

Back in May of last year, I just came home (to Baguio) from a mission trip in a nearby indigenous community in Bokod, Benguet. It was my mom's birthday and I had a bit of time off before I had to travel back to Manila so I thought of treating her out. We brought my cousin, Kuya King, along whose birthday was incidentally some days before then.

This is How We Party!

Day #6: Students in Touch at Kuya Billy's 50th Birthday Party

Kuya Billy, our youth Pastor/Minister back in Baguio turned 50 this week! And what better way to celebrate a life that has been a blessing to many than with an intimate dinner...of 80 people!

Well, have peak at the party!

Baguio Arrival Routine

Day #5: Myself at Volante, Baguio City

I consider myself to be extremely loyal. It shows even in seemingly mababaw things. I am often adventurous when it comes to going unknown places, especially when it comes to food (walang kokontra)but I love routine most of all. I love coming back again and again to old favorites and ordering the same stuff forevermore. Case-in-point? Simple Line Royal Oolong Milk tea with pearls, medium and less sweet. haha.

 And here is another case though this is significantly harder to get by: Breakfast meal at Pizza Volante, Vigan longganisa and Sunny side up at 5:00 in the morning. After a walk around Luneta hill. (and if my mom were reading this she'd probably scold me for many reasons :D)

Top: Session road at dawn is sooo...empty! L-R: My travel-worn look :), Breakfast, real hot cocoa.

it took some time coming but...

The photograph says it all..

...but in the tradition of my wanting to say too many things because I've been ignoring this blog again, I'll state it anyway. Finally, finally milk tea craze have found its way to Baguio City! Not that I would call it a craze up there but Moon Leaf Tea opened a store in John Hay Technohub last December and while I was there for the holidays i noticed tea places beyond the usual Zentea Bubbatealicious (which are not really,uh, my cups of tea).

back at 50's

What charm does 50's diner hold to the people of  Baguio that even during a stormy, blustery, frigid day people are willing to wait <outside!> for their turn at a plate of Mamma's Kid??

A summery bowl of fruits. Made us forget it was stormy outside.

I remember this place as an obscure but interesting restaurant along Abanao street, with the vintage-looking automobile above the entrance. Though I have never eaten there, I was nevertheless sad when I saw they were packing up. 

It turned out they did not close up but moved to a new place in Leonard Wood road and gained a rather unexpected following--UP-Baguio students! All of a sudden 50's diner defines the Baguio city dining experience. People raved about the wall posters, the music, the broken jukebox, the milkshakes, the fries, the counter, the servers, the manager. And the price-- which many people said is cheap but with which I couldn't get to agree. Nevertheless, I came to eat there a few times and loved it too. Indeed it was one of the things I missed when I left the city.

Recently I got to dine there again with a bunch of returning friends. We went to the newer branch along Military Cut-off road since the other store was < you guessed it> overflowing despite the downpour. And in our excitement almost all of us ordered Guys on the Hood! Someone also tried out their <expensive> fruit plate which did look mouth-watering in its presentation, we almost did not want to touch it. Another person had a banana split which was the best as ever. All in all, we enjoyed coming back to an old favorite.

Can the girls finish up their Guys on the Hood? (pizza, chicken, pork chop,

buttered veggies, toast, fries and spaghetti)

...without a doubt.

People are talking about: Mamma's kid, banana split, milkshakes
Best deal: Guys on the Hood
I wanna try: She, that-huge-burger-which-I-don't-know-the-name
Best with: a bunch of old friends to swap stories with.#

photos from: Jerwin Abellana

first!

I have been wanting to do something like this for sometime. It emerged when I first realized how much I miss eating out in my hometown ( or City), Baguio. I don't know how to describe it, it's just different. Then again it's probably my tummy feeling so... at home. 

So now, A FOOD BLOG. and maybe other things besides. this is my first, beware! but, also, ENJOY! 

A smile from the bottom of my lemon iced tea (Kangaroo Jacks)

P.S. why is that the blog name? well, its from Proverbs 13:25. I put in " Our" --myself and you all. A promise to never go hungry! Yay!!!!